The - I'm Tired of Learning Lessons The Hard Way (ITOLLTHW) - (and might as well teach others)- Home Theater Build v2.0
I've read through tons of threads on AVS and gained tons of good info, and also lots of bad , and also spent TONS of time reading through other people's threads.
What I've also found is that the devil is in the details - even after applying the general concepts, how you handle specific challenges can totally make/break the project.
Also - oftentimes there are details that the "pros" may omit as they take it for granted or simply lack of time lends to short concise posts - the result is that a total newbie (like me) can follow their directions exactly - and make that fatal oversight - hopefully I can spell it out entirely
I'm hoping to organize this thread with the original post containing
My Goals
And just so I don't lose sight of what tangible improvements I hope to obtain with the rebuild (in priority order)
Comments are VERY Welcome
Topics:
I've read through tons of threads on AVS and gained tons of good info, and also lots of bad , and also spent TONS of time reading through other people's threads.
What I've also found is that the devil is in the details - even after applying the general concepts, how you handle specific challenges can totally make/break the project.
Also - oftentimes there are details that the "pros" may omit as they take it for granted or simply lack of time lends to short concise posts - the result is that a total newbie (like me) can follow their directions exactly - and make that fatal oversight - hopefully I can spell it out entirely
I'm hoping to organize this thread with the original post containing
My Goals
And just so I don't lose sight of what tangible improvements I hope to obtain with the rebuild (in priority order)
- First and foremost - better sound containment - i.e the ability to hear movies at movie theater volume and not be heard upstairs (being heard in the basement is OK) - My lesson learned the hard way was that soundproofing is somewhat all or nothing - thus my prev. method of doing the best I can afford and incrementally improving was a waste (adding add'l layers of DW and GG only gets you so far). Last year I redid the ceiling the "right way" now I need to redo the walls/soffit.
- Ventilate - I use the room A LOT (see multi function bullet below), and the air quality stinks
- Hidden front speakers - Acoustically Transparent (AT) Wall and Screen
- Taller doorway without having to feel like Gandalf walking into a hobbit's liar (despite waste pipe and support beam running the length of the HT room)
- Better room acoustics
- Heat, A/C
- Nicer look - maintaining multi function purpose - (a) HT (b) Work Office (c) Exercise/ workout room- ideally it'd look like a living area and not a HT
Comments are VERY Welcome
- links to separate threads that deal with each of the individual issues tackled (e.g. a separate thread entitled "Building a wall next to a foundation wall") to provide simple info access for others
- Summary of Final Conclusions
Topics:
- General Design
- SoundProofing/Containment/Isolation
- Ceiling
- Walls
- Walls next to foundation wall
- Attaching Walls to ceiling joists with whisper clips
- Soffit
- cover main support beam and drain pipe
- Lally Column
- Door
- Flooring
- Ventilation
- Heating
- Air Conditioning
- Acoustical Treatment
- Costs